Thursday, July 2, 2009

Guest editor Sarah Woodhead, editor of leading daily eco glossy Greenmystyle.com, popped by this week to choose her favourite pieces from our new Summer Sale. We're a big fan of Greenmystyle.com as the magazine regularly features our items in its fashion editorial!

Sarah writes: The sun is shining and our summerwear has broken free from our wardrobes. The editorial team is styled in a flurry of colour, florals and prints as our safe spring neutrals are swapped for pretty summer dresses, bright and light accessories and separates to stay colourful and cool in. There's boho going on, a touch of Eighties glam, and even a bit of beach party.

We love this time of year, and not just for the Summer fashion free-for-all and the Pimm's. There's a buzz in the air about the great bargains to be had in the Summer Sales, of course!

On the high street the Sales can be a time of mindless spending on more mass-produced stuff to chuck to the bottom of the wardrobe without wearing, and we definitely don't support that old-fashioned behaviour. Instead, we advocate using the Summer Sales as a time to invest in long-lasting quality ethical pieces that might be a little beyond your budget at other times.

It's fine to mix in a little fashionable fun, but our tip would be to look for classic items that will live on long after the Sale banners have come down. DeviDoll is a great place to start. Here are my five picks from the DeviDoll Summer Sale. You may also like to see DeviDoll's own Top 30 picks.

1. Doie bubble skirt dress, £36 reduced from £102In the softest bamboo jersey this Doie summer dress is the perfect piece for dressing up or down. I'd be tempted to wear this with heaps of brightly-coloured clashing necklaces, of varying lengths, turning this versatile summer dress into a show-stopper.The colour is on-trend with this season's brights, and is flattering to all skin-tones. Plus, who doesn't love a summer dress at less than £50?!Pop a tee or blouse over the top, with a waisted belt, and transform the look.Also see:Kelly B Roberta bamboo knit dress, £60, reduced from £163 See all dresses in the Sale

3. AOKI Mandy jeans, £65, reduced from £135Ok, I have to admit I already own these jeans, but if I didn't they'd be the first item in my shopping basket. They are just about the most comfortable jeans I have, in a light enough denim to cope with a little summer sun.The straight leg is flattering and they pass the all-important bum test with flying colours. A little secret, because they aren't desperately low-slung they make a wonderful choice if you have a little tum.The AOKI Mandy jean is a perfect example of a Summer Sale investment buy. You'll wear these jeans for years.Also see:Buy Del Forte organic cotton jeans at the cheapest price on the web See all jeans in the Sale

5. Nahui Ollin Buckle Ritual bag, £37, reduced from £140Every year I see gorgeously stylish girls sporting metallic day bags with their pretty summer outfits and think how spot-on they look, as I sheepishly hide my wintery brown leather tote behind my back. Metallics never fail to look glamorous and feminine.The Nahui Ollin Buckle ritual bag, like all Nahui Ollin pieces, is entirely hand-made by specially folding and weaving individual candy wrappers, gum wrappers and soda bottle labels that are factory rejects from independent manufacturers and have never been used. These 'surplus' materials are diverted away from landfill to be made into the funkiest accessories by independant families in Mexico, under fair-wage conditions. No seriously stylish ethical wardrobe should be without one.Also see:Nahui Ollin Nuevo clutch, £20, reduced from £60 See all bags in the Sale